Submited on: 27 Oct 2010 03:10:17 AM GMT
Published on: 27 Oct 2010 01:56:16 PM GMT
 

1 Is the subject of the article within the scope of the subject category? Yes
2 Are the interpretations / conclusions sound and justified by the data? Partly
3 Is this a new and original contribution? Yes
4 Does this paper exemplify an awareness of other research on the topic? No
5 Are structure and length satisfactory? No
6 Can you suggest brief additions or amendments or an introductory statement that will increase the value of this paper for an international audience? Yes
7 Can you suggest any reductions in the paper, or deletions of parts? No
8 Is the quality of the diction satisfactory? No
9 Are the illustrations and tables necessary and acceptable? Yes
10 Are the references adequate and are they all necessary? Yes
11 Are the keywords and abstract or summary informative? Yes
  • Other Comments:

    Anti-cancer activity of Schiff's bases is an interesting line of investigation and the authors make a reasonable attempt at evaulating the same. However there are several major and minor concerns that need to be answered in order for the paper to be deemed as a substanital addition to the current knowledge.Currently, the only solid conclusion that could be drawn from this paper is that, Schiff's bases have cytotoxic effects on two leukemic cell lines.

     

    Major Comment 1 - Apoptosis induction is concluded based simply on activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3/7; however, it now well-known that sometimes even if caspase 3/7 are activated, apoptosis might not take place. In line of the same, analysis of downstream targets of executioner caspases e.g. cleavage of PARP protein, needs to be done.

     

    Major Comment 2 - The results shown for caspase activation need to be substantiated via another methodology e.g. immunoblotting based analysis of caspase cleavage.

     

    Major Comment 3 - The authors draw conclusion about mitochondria-based apoptosis after treatment with Schiff's bases. These are unfounded claims unless confirmed via mitonchondrial outer membrane depolarization analysis (FACS-based or microscopy-based).

     

    Major Comment 4 - The paper would gain significant impact if the authors add microscopy-based or flow cytometry-based analysis of apoptosis.

     

    Minor Comment - The introduction and results section needs to be re-written substantially. In its current state, it is slightly unorganized. A little work on this part would increase the reader-satisfaction of the paper.

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    Yes
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Carried out analysis of Apoptotic, Autophagic as well as Necrotic morphologies and biochemical/molecular signatures in cancer cells undergoing treatment with chemotherapeutics or photo-irradiation.

  • How to cite:  Garg A D.Apoptosis characterization requires further work.[Review of the article 'Diaminobenzene Schiff Base Induces Caspase 9-dependent Apoptosis In U937 Leukemia Cells ' by Abdul Majid A].WebmedCentral 2011;2(9):WMCRW00932
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1 Is the subject of the article within the scope of the subject category? Yes
2 Are the interpretations / conclusions sound and justified by the data? Yes
3 Is this a new and original contribution? Yes
4 Does this paper exemplify an awareness of other research on the topic? Yes
5 Are structure and length satisfactory? Yes
6 Can you suggest brief additions or amendments or an introductory statement that will increase the value of this paper for an international audience? Yes
7 Can you suggest any reductions in the paper, or deletions of parts? No
8 Is the quality of the diction satisfactory? Yes
9 Are the illustrations and tables necessary and acceptable? Yes
10 Are the references adequate and are they all necessary? Yes
11 Are the keywords and abstract or summary informative? Yes
  • Other Comments:

    the author should reorganize the introduction part, it lacks the normal follow,  it contain short unlinked paragraphs. Also the result section should be rewritten to at least met a standard levels. T

  • Competing interests:
    no
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    Yes
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    Yes
  • References:
    Effects of DNA minor groove binding agents on global gene expression. Zihlif M, Catchpoole DR, Stewart BW, Wakelin LP. Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2010 Nov-Dec;7(6):323-30.PMID: 21156965 Effects of DNA threading bis(9-aminoacridine-4-carboxamides) on global gene expression. Zihlif M, Catchpoole DR, Stewart BW, Wakelin LP. Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2009 Nov-Dec;6(6):317-23.PMID: 20065318 DNA threading bis(9-aminoacridine-4-carboxamides): effects of piperidine sidechains on DNA binding, cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest. He Z, Bu X, Eleftheriou A, Zihlif M, Qing Z, Stewart BW, Wakelin LP. Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Apr 15;16(8):4390-400. Epub 2008 Feb 23.PMID: 18329887
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    Most of my work in this field and I do have a good experience in investigating the mechanism of anti-cancer agents. (see my publication)

  • How to cite:  Zihlif M .Diaminobenzene Schiff Base Induces Caspase 9-dependent Apoptosis In U937 Leukemia Cells [Review of the article 'Diaminobenzene Schiff Base Induces Caspase 9-dependent Apoptosis In U937 Leukemia Cells ' by Abdul Majid A].WebmedCentral 2011;2(1):WMCRW00314
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